8 Months Pregnant - What Happens? Feelings And Complications

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

8 month pregnant

The eighth month is the middle of the third and last trimester of pregnancy. It is no longer so easy for a woman to cope with her condition. But any difficulties can be surmounted if there is a meeting with the desired baby ahead! Right now, it is important to maintain mental balance, avoid stress and physical exertion.

Content:

• What happens in the female body
• Uterus at 8 months
• Fetal development at 8 months of pregnancy
• Feelings at 8 months of pregnancy
• Psychological features
• Complications of pregnancy
• Doctor visit at 8 months
• Formation of the diet
• Intimate relationship

What happens in the female body

The weight gain in both the woman and the child is so great that the uterus intensively increases in size, being under the very ribs. Its bottom is located as high as possible above the level of the pubic articulation (38-40 cm), and will not take a higher position until the very birth. Nevertheless, even during this period, some women retain a fairly slender figure, have a small, neat belly. Both for them and for owners of impressive sizes, all parameters are laid down at the genetic level, and all options are the norm if the obstetrician-gynecologist believes that pregnancy is developing normally.

The optimal weight gain at this stage of pregnancy is up to 400 g per week. A more solid increase indicates hidden edema. For the prevention of excessive gain, fasting days should be used, the method of which is prescribed by the doctor. In general, at this time, a woman has from 8 to 13 extra pounds of body weight, added since the beginning of pregnancy. This variation is due to the peculiarities of the constitution - the smaller the woman was, the more she can gain weight.

Another feature of this month is that the hormonal effect has its effect on the growth of hair on the skin, there are more of them. At the same time, the woman notices that the hair on her head is getting thicker, and hair loss, if it has occurred, no longer bothers. After childbirth, this process will reverse - hair on the skin will begin to fall out, but their number on the scalp will also decrease. Do not worry too much about this, as soon after the birth of the child, all processes will balance.

Video about the features of the course of 8 months of pregnancy, about the symptoms of gestosis, about how to properly collect the bag in the hospital:

Uterus at 8 months

Due to an overly enlarged uterus, women at this stage of pregnancy may experience stress urinary incontinence. Intense pressure on all organs of the abdominal cavity forces them to move apart and make room. The pressure on the bladder causes a small amount of urine to flow through coughing, laughing, and sneezing.

A significant increase in the mass of the uterus along with the fetus and placenta causes back pain. Together with pains from sufficiently pronounced shocks of the baby, such sensations can be very unpleasant. Exercise "cat's back" and wearing a prenatal bandage will help ease them.

Fetal development at 8 months of pregnancy

At this stage of pregnancy, the space in the uterus becomes much smaller, and the baby can no longer intensively move in it. He can stretch and roll with a small range of motion, and in most cases he has already turned his head down, taking the most rational position for childbirth. During a visit to a gynecologist, he immediately states this fact.

The accumulated layer of subcutaneous fatty tissue gives the unborn child the classic appearance of a newborn baby - chubby cheeks, rounded arms and shoulders, and a smooth face. On the handles, the nails have reached the edge of the last phalanx, while on the toes they have not yet grown to this state. The lubricant on the body of the fetus, which helps to glide freely along the birth canal, becomes thicker, and the fluff on the body, on the contrary, disappears. The baby's nose and ears are made up of denser cartilage. The bones of his skull are quite soft, they tend to go behind each other during childbirth, due to which the volume of the head decreases somewhat in size.

The child has mastered the breathing, sucking and swallowing movements. At this stage, the cerebral cortex is improved, the number of convolutions increases, and connections between neurons grow. The baby has a sleep and wakefulness schedule, and in the sleep phase he is, according to research. Perhaps dreams. At least his pupils under his closed eyelids move in a manner inherent in such eye movements during REM sleep.

The endocrine glands are so developed that the size of the adrenal glands is equal to the size of this gland in an adult, and their performance is several times higher than the amount of hormones produced by an adult. After birth, the size of the gland will become smaller. Boys' testicles have acquired their intended shape and size. The liver of the unborn child has accumulated and continues to accumulate iron, the purpose of which is to participate in the hematopoiesis of an infant in the first year of life.

The level of surfactant that allows the lungs not to collapse during the exhalation phase has increased so much that the early birth of a child will not prevent him from breathing on his own. This fact allows us to call such a baby born before the term, and not premature.

The daily weight gain is from 15 to 30 g, practically the baby adds 1% every day. The weight of the child by the end of 8 months is 2500, the height is 45 cm.

Feelings at 8 months of pregnancy

The complex of sensations can be called in one word "discomfort". Most of all, it manifests itself during falling asleep and sleeping. A woman is annoyed by back pain and lack of oxygen, the need to often go to the toilet. Braxton-Hicks' training contractions - painless contractions of the uterus - become quite tangible. They begin at the top, wave-like over the entire surface and subside. To fall asleep easier and sleep better. You can take a walk before going to bed, perform a simple physical activity - drugs that act instead of sleeping pills contraindicated for pregnant women.

Very often, due to the high elevated stomach under the influence of the pregnant uterus, a woman feels heartburn. It is caused by the food lump processed by gastric juice back up into the esophagus, causing discomfort there. An effective remedy for heartburn is eating small meals so that it leaves the stomach faster. If you experience severe discomfort, your doctor will recommend safe antacids.

It becomes more and more difficult to take walks, the woman quickly gets tired, has to frequent the toilet, she suffers from shortness of breath. The fetus begins to actively move, and, since its legs are located in the upper part of the uterus, it feels pain in the liver or under the upper ribs. With a long walk, a pregnant woman develops pulling pains in the lower back, in the lower abdomen. In this case, you should definitely lie down, taking the drug No-shpa. Long-term pain is a reason for seeking emergency help.

Psychological features

The main feelings that possess a woman at this time are anxiety and anxious expectations of childbirth. If a woman does not manage to get enough sleep, she feels helpless and clumsy, even ridiculous trifles can irritate the expectant mother. Concern about how the childbirth will go, whether the baby will be healthy, whether it will be possible to return to the previous rhythm of life - these are the main problems that concern a woman. For psychological support, it is important to contact your relatives, enroll in a motherhood school.

It is important to try to look good, take care of your appearance. Do not avoid visiting exhibitions, theatrical performances, short trips to nature. When communicating with older children, it is advisable to discuss with them future changes in life, to tell that they will not be less loved with the appearance of the baby. It is advisable to let them touch their belly, offer to talk to the baby.

Complications of pregnancy

Late toxicosis, nephrosis, preeclamsia are synonyms for the diagnosis of gestosis, a dangerous complication of pregnancy.

Causes of gestosis:

• Multiple pregnancy
• High blood pressure
• Too young age, or late pregnancy,
• Stress
• Kidney disease
• Heredity,
• Diabetes.

The most striking symptom of late toxicosis is edema, which can be overt or latent. Edema is indicated by the inability to remove the wedding ring, traces of linen at the waist or from the elastic bands of socks on the legs. Latent edema may be indicated by weight gain. In addition, there is high blood pressure, protein in the urine. The woman may not be aware that she has gestosis, since she does not feel pressure, and does not know about the data of urine tests.

Additional symptoms:

• "Flies" in sight,
• Dizziness, headache,
• Pain in the right hypochondrium,
• Nausea and vomiting.

If, during pregnancy, a woman's blood pressure jumps were ascertained, each symptom can lead to a serious complication - eclamsia. This condition comes on suddenly, manifested by severe convulsions and loss of consciousness. Such symptoms indicate that cerebral edema has begun, leading to the death of the mother or child.

Treatment of gestosis is carried out in a hospital, in bed rest. A woman is allowed to get up as a last resort for food and self-service. It is advisable to lie on the left side to activate the placental circulation and stimulate the kidneys. If necessary, cause premature birth to save the life of the woman and the child.

Doctor visit at 8 months

Doctor visits for 8 months are scheduled every 2 weeks, even if you are feeling great. Before visiting a doctor, you need to pass a urine test.

An obstetrician-gynecologist is interested in a woman's well-being and monitors the following parameters:

• Blood pressure,
• Body weight;
• The height of the fundus of the uterus,
• Abdominal circumference,
• Baby's heartbeat
• The presence or absence of edema;
• Fetal presentation.

At the end of the month, the woman is offered to take a smear for the purity of the vaginal flora and undergo an examination on a gynecological chair.

Before giving birth, you will have to update the test results:

• For sugar,
• For blood clotting;
• Biochemistry;
• General clinical blood test.

All results must be entered into the pregnant woman's exchange card, which she should always have with her.

At this stage of pregnancy, the third planned ultrasound is performed, which determines:

• Fetal parameters,
• The size of the uterus,
• Presentation,
• The state of the placenta,
• Amniotic fluid volume
• Possible pathology of fetal development, developmental delay,
• Lung tissue maturity.

If an ultrasound scan with dopplerometry is performed, the doctor has the opportunity to study the blood flow in the placenta, in the circulatory system of the mother and child, to identify oxygen starvation and circulatory disorders.

Formation of the diet

To prevent edema, the doctor recommends consuming no more than 1.5 liters of liquid, including the juice of consumed vegetables and fruits, liquid of the first courses. It is advisable to replace all drinks, both sweet and salty, with plain clean water. An additional measure is the restriction of salt to 3-5 g per day, and it is advisable to cook food without salt and add salt to food after, already before eating.

The more protein in a woman's diet and less fat and carbohydrates, the easier it will be for her to maintain an optimal weight without restricting the child in nutrients.

It is important to eat often and little by little, 6-7 times a day to prevent heartburn. The last time you need to have dinner 2-3 hours before bedtime. Better if it is fruits, vegetables and dairy products. When shaping the menu, it is advisable not to consume foods that cause allergies in the last months of pregnancy, so as not to provoke the penetration of allergens through the placenta. These are honey, chocolate, chicken eggs, strawberries, citrus fruits, chicken meat.

Intimate relationship

There is no consensus on whether sex is permissible at this stage of pregnancy.

It is best to consult a pregnancy doctor if there are any contraindications for intimate relationships:

• Danger of placental abruption;
• Placenta previa;
• Risk of bleeding;
• Discharge of unclear etiology.

At the end of 8 months, it is advisable to collect the things that will be needed in the hospital. Most likely, these will be slippers that can be washed, socks, pads, underwear, a bra for nursing mothers.

A newborn will also need a "dowry":

• Diapers,
• Baby soap and cream,
• Wet wipes.

A cream for the treatment of cracks and abrasions of the nipples (Actovegin, Bepanten) may be useful.

The author of the article: Lapikova Valentina Vladimirovna | Gynecologist, reproductologist

Education: Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology received at the Russian State Medical University of the Federal Agency for Healthcare and Social Development (2010). In 2013 completed postgraduate studies at N. N. N. I. Pirogova.